A LONDONER was “forced” to drive to Barnstaple and con shops out of cash with false cheques, a court has heard.

Roshan Vyse, 20, from Drayton Green, London, claimed in court through defence solicitor Zara Svensson that he was driven to town from the capital by two men he did not know and made to get involved in the fraudulent scheme.

On September 14, 2013, he used his passport and a fake utility bill he said was given to him by the men, which had been doctored to include his name on it, to cash a cheque for £490 at Cash Brokers in Boutport Street.

He did the same 15 minutes later at The Money Centre in Bear Street and later that day at Cash Converters in Exeter.